Abstract: An optical sighting device includes an eyepiece positioned to receive optical radiation along an optical axis to produce a real exit pupil located remote from the eyepiece. The real exit pupil is positioned at an eye relief distance from the eyepiece along the optical axis. A digital signal processor determines an axial distance from the eyepiece to an eye positioned proximate the real exit pupil along the optical axis. An aperture stop is centered along the optical axis to direct the optical radiation in a direction of the eyepiece. The eye relief distance is based at least in part on a position of the aperture stop along the optical axis. The optical sighting device further includes an eye relief actuator to translate the aperture stop along the optical axis to null a spatial offset between the eye relief distance and the axial distance to the eye.

Abstract: Optical combiners and methods of manufacturing and alignment thereof are provided. An optical combiner includes a first optical element with a convex surface and a second optical element with a concave surface. At least one of the convex or concave surfaces has an aspherical curvature, e.g., is an aspherical surface. A reflective coating is applied to the aspherical surface, and an adhesive couples the convex surface to the concave surface to provide a combined optical element. The combined optical element, or optical doublet, may be aligned with a light source, to be reflected by the reflective coating, to provide an aiming reference for a user.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for automatically expanding the eyebox of an optical imaging device by tracking the movement of an operator's eye, and automatically repositioning the exit pupil of the optical imaging device to follow the movement of the eye.

Abstract: Optical apparatus in which a beam deflector is used to reposition the sight beam from a reflex sight. In one example, an optical apparatus includes a reflex sight configured to produce a collimated reflex sight beam directed along an optical axis, and a beam deflector coupled to an output of the reflex sight and configured to deflect the reflex sight beam by a selected angle of deflection relative to the optical axis to reposition an eyebox of the reflex sight off-axis with respect to the optical axis and remote from the reflex sight. In certain examples, the optical apparatus also includes a telescopic sight, and the beam deflector is configured to deflect the collimated reflex sight beam to overlap the reflex sight beam with the exit pupil of the telescopic sight.

Abstract: An imaging method and apparatus to provide digital calibration of an optical system that includes one or more removable plane parallel plates or optical wedges. One example of the method includes generating an initial estimate of an optical point spread function of an optical imaging system that includes a plane parallel plate or optical wedge positioned in the optical train based on an optical prescription of the optical imaging system, capturing a first image of a scene using the optical imaging system, and applying a blind deconvolution process to the first image using the initial estimate of the optical point spread function to produce a refined estimate of the optical point spread function and produce a second image that is substantially without blur.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for automatically expanding the eyebox of an optical imaging device by tracking the movement of an operator's eye, and automatically repositioning the exit pupil of the optical imaging device to follow the movement of the eye.

Abstract: Optical apparatus in which a beam deflector is used to reposition the sight beam from a reflex sight. In one example, an optical apparatus includes a reflex sight configured to produce a collimated reflex sight beam directed along an optical axis, and a beam deflector coupled to an output of the reflex sight and configured to deflect the reflex sight beam by a selected angle of deflection relative to the optical axis to reposition an eyebox of the reflex sight off-axis with respect to the optical axis and remote from the reflex sight. In certain examples, the optical apparatus also includes a telescopic sight, and the beam deflector is configured to deflect the collimated reflex sight beam to overlap the reflex sight beam with the exit pupil of the telescopic sight.

Abstract: An optical sighting device and a method of providing magnification in the optical sighting device are disclosed. In one example, the optical sighting device comprises a first telescope including a first focal plane, a second telescope, comprising a first variable power lens group, a second variable power lens group, and a second focal plane positioned between the first and second variable power lens groups, and a rotary optical tumbler comprised of a Galilean telescope configured to rotate into and out of a optical path that extends through the first telescope, the Galilean telescope and the second telescope, the rotation being about an axis disposed relative to the optical path.

Abstract: An imaging method and apparatus to provide digital calibration of an optical system that includes one or more removable plane parallel plates or optical wedges. One example of the method includes generating an initial estimate of an optical point spread function of an optical imaging system that includes a plane parallel plate or optical wedge positioned in the optical train based on an optical prescription of the optical imaging system, capturing a first image of a scene using the optical imaging system, and applying a blind deconvolution process to the first image using the initial estimate of the optical point spread function to produce a refined estimate of the optical point spread function and produce a second image that is substantially without blur.

Abstract: An optical sighting device and a method of providing magnification in the optical sighting device are disclosed. In one example, the optical sighting device comprises a first telescope including a first focal plane, a second telescope, comprising a first variable power lens group, a second variable power lens group, and a second focal plane positioned between the first and second variable power lens groups, and a rotary optical tumbler comprised of a Galilean telescope configured to rotate into and out of a optical path that extends through the first telescope, the Galilean telescope and the second telescope, the rotation being about an axis disposed relative to the optical path.

Abstract: A multi-magnification viewing and aiming scope includes a first imaging group including an objective lens and an eyepiece lens lying on the optical path. The first imaging group forms a first image having a first magnification on the optical path at an image location. A second imaging lens group is controllably inserted into the optical path between at least some elements of the objective lens and the eyepiece lens. Upon insertion of the second imaging lens group into the optical path an optical combination of the first imaging group and the second imaging lens group forms a second image having a second magnification on the optical path at substantially the image location. The insertion may be accomplished by a tumbler mechanism upon which the second imaging lens group is mounted for pivoting the second imaging lens group about an axis perpendicular to the optical path.

Abstract: A method and apparatus involve using optics to direct radiation from a scene along an optical axis, the optics having a chromatic dispersion that is a function of a characteristic spectral signature for the scene so as to produce a chromatic blur that, for an extended depth-of-field region, is substantially spatially constant along the optical axis. A different method involves: identifying for a characteristic scene a spectral response curve; determining a plurality of different wavelength nodes dividing the area under the spectral response curve into a plurality of substantially equal segments; generating a mapping relationship that maps each of the wavelength nodes to a respective one of a plurality of focal points spaced substantially equally along the optical axis; and configuring the optical system as a function of the mapping relationship.

Abstract: An optical system has an optical component with a curved surface and zero optical power. The optical system is configured so that the optical component is the first optical structure encountered by radiation entering the optical system from externally thereof. According to a different aspect, a method is provided for making an optical system that has an optical component with a surface, where the optical component is the first optical structure encountered by radiation entering the optical system from externally thereof. The method includes configuring the surface to be curved, and configuring the optical component to have zero optical power.

Abstract: A multi-magnification viewing and aiming scope includes a first imaging group including an objective lens lying on the optical path and an eyepiece lens lying on the optical path. The first imaging group forms a first image having a first magnification on the optical path at an image location. A second imaging lens group may be controllably inserted into the optical path between at least some elements of the objective lens and the eyepiece lens. Upon insertion of the second imaging lens group into the optical path an optical combination of the first imaging group and the second imaging lens group forms a second image having a second magnification on the optical path at substantially the image location. The insertion may be accomplished by a tumbler mechanism upon which the second imaging lens group is mounted. The tumbler mechanism controllably pivots the second imaging lens group about a tumbler axis perpendicular to the optical path, between inserted and non-inserted positions.

Abstract: A multi-magnification viewing and aiming scope includes a first imaging group including an objective lens lying on the optical path and an eyepiece lens lying on the optical path. The first imaging group forms a first image having a first magnification on the optical path at an image location. A second imaging lens group is controllably inserted into the optical path between at least some elements of the objective lens and the eyepiece lens. Upon insertion of the second imaging lens group into the optical path an optical combination of the first imaging group and the second imaging lens group forms a second image having a second magnification on the optical path at substantially the image location. The insertion may be accomplished by a tumbler mechanism upon which the second imaging lens group is mounted.

Abstract: An optical system has an optical component with a curved surface and zero optical power. The optical system is configured so that the optical component is the first optical structure encountered by radiation entering the optical system from externally thereof. According to a different aspect, a method is provided for making an optical system that has an optical component with a surface, where the optical component is the first optical structure encountered by radiation entering the optical system from externally thereof. The method includes configuring the surface to be curved, and configuring the optical component to have zero optical power.

Abstract: A method and apparatus involve using optics to direct radiation from a scene along an optical axis, the optics having a chromatic dispersion that is a function of a characteristic spectral signature for the scene so as to produce a chromatic blur that, for an extended depth-of-field region, is substantially spatially constant along the optical axis. A different method involves: identifying for a characteristic scene a spectral response curve; determining a plurality of different wavelength nodes dividing the area under the spectral response curve into a plurality of substantially equal segments; generating a mapping relationship that maps each of the wavelength nodes to a respective one of a plurality of focal points spaced substantially equally along the optical axis; and configuring the optical system as a function of the mapping relationship.

Abstract: A multi-magnification viewing and aiming scope includes a first imaging group including an objective lens lying on the optical path and an eyepiece lens lying on the optical path. The first imaging group forms a first image having a first magnification on the optical path at an image location. A second imaging lens group may be controllably inserted into the optical path between at least some elements of the objective lens and the eyepiece lens. Upon insertion of the second imaging lens group into the optical path an optical combination of the first imaging group and the second imaging lens group forms a second image having a second magnification on the optical path at substantially the image location. The insertion may be accomplished by a tumbler mechanism upon which the second imaging lens group is mounted. The tumbler mechanism controllably pivots the second imaging lens group about a tumbler axis perpendicular to the optical path, between inserted and non-inserted positions.

Abstract: The thin-film optical filters and transmitted-light collimators of a multistage optical multiplexer/demultiplexer apparatus are assembled by locating the thin-film optical filters so that an incident light beam is incident upon and reflected sequentially from each thin-film optical filter to the next thin-film optical filter, and orienting each thin-film optical filter to produce a respective angle-of-incidence of the incident light beam on the thin-film optical filter so that a desired transmitted light beam is transmitted therethrough with a maximum intensity. The transmitted-light collimators are positioned to receive the respective transmitted light beams with minimal insertion loss. The respective steps of positioning are performed independently of, but after, the respective steps of orienting for each multiplexer/demultiplexer stage.

Abstract: A free-space optical lasercom system is disclosed which includes an optical subsystem for receiving an Rx signal and sending a Tx signal, wherein said optical subsystem establishes a focal plane. A first optical fiber with an end coupled to the optical subsystem for directing the Rx signal to an RX detector. A second optical fiber is also included with an end coupled to the optical subsystem for directing the Tx signal from a Tx laser source. A linear X-Y shifting apparatus is used for positioning the respective ends of the first and second optical fibers in the focal plane of the optical subsystem so as to maintain a desired coupling efficiency.